The National Strike that Ecuador experienced in June 2022 was the longest in recent decades. After 18 days of mobilizations throughout the country, hundreds of people arrested, injured and nine people dead, the strike ended once the dialogues between the government and representatives of the indigenous movement and social organizations began. Inequality, poverty and the high cost of living, as well as violations of human rights and the rights of nature are some of the reasons why people demonstrated.
The photographs of the first 7 days of coverage were taken for LaPeriodica.net and the photographs of the last 11 days were on assignment for Reuters.
El Paro Nacional que vivió Ecuador en junio de 2022 ha sido el más largo de las últimas décadas. Después de 18 días de movilizaciones en todo el país, cientos de personas detenidas, heridas y nueve personas fallecidas se dió finalizado el paro una vez que iniciaron los diálogos entre el gobierno y representantes del movimiento indígena y organizaciones sociales. La desigualdad, la pobreza y el alto costo de la vida, así como las vulneraciones a los derechos humanos y derechos de la naturaleza son algunas de las razones por las que las personas se manifestaron.
Las fotografías de los primeros 7 días de cobertura fueron hechas para LaPeriodica.net y las fotografías de los últimos 11 días fueron en asignación para Reuters.
A young man uses his shirt to cover himself from the tear gas used to repress.
Thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Quito.
A young man wears a Diablouma mask, a representative character of the indigenous communities.
An elderly man holds roses in front of a bonfire outside the Central University of Ecuador.
Detail of a megaphone used in the national strike demonstrations outside the Central University. June 20, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Quito.
Young people play music and dance as they march through the streets of Quito.
Graffitti that says: In this city the walls are devout.
Thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Quito.
Portrait of a young Amazonian in the mobilization.
Thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Quito.
Graffiti that says: No more mining.
People walk in front of graffiti that reads: Who answers for the dead?
Police forces repress in the center of the capital.
Shells of buckshot fired by police at demonstrators.
On the eighth day of the national strike, thousands of people from indigenous and peasant communities from different areas of the country took over the city of Quito. The residents of the southern neighborhoods receive them with food and shelter.
Demonstrators dance in circles to the melody of flutes despite repression in Santo Domingo Square. June 17, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Ritual at the women's march during the national strike.
Portrait of Ome Nongue, Waorani communicator. On the thirteenth day of the strike, on June 25, women from the different indigenous nationalities and peasant and Afro-descendant communities of Ecuador mobilized in a large march demanding an end to the repression during the national strike. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Portrait of Laura Enqueri, Waorani Amazonian woman. On the thirteenth day of the strike, on June 25, women of the different indigenous nationalities and peasant and afro-descendant communities of Ecuador mobilized in a large march demanding an end to the repression during the national strike. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Jatarishun, a Kichwa word, means: to rise.
Thousands of people return to the Casa de la Cultura after it was forcibly taken over by the national police.
Leonidas Iza, president of CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), in a speech during the return of the indigenous movement to the Casa de la Cultura.
Dozens of police forcibly enter from all sides of the Casa de la Cultura on the seventh day of the national strike.
An indigenous man remarks indignantly about how the increase in gasoline prices affects the daily life of the communities.
Handcrafted shields made from metal tank parts.
Rescue groups provide medical aid to people injured in the mobilizations.
Groups of protesters build bonfires to withstand the tear gas flooding the streets.
An Amazonian woman holds a flag outside the place where the dialogues between the indigenous movement and the government begin on the 15th day of the national strike. June 27, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Leonidas Iza, president of CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), in a speech during the return of the indigenous movement to the Casa de la Cultura.
Teenage women run under a bridge holding eucalyptus branches to help them withstand the tear gas. June 30, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Women from different indigenous nationalities of Ecuador lead a massive mobilization through the streets of the historic center of the capital during the last day of the strike. June 30, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Leaders of the different indigenous nationalities of Ecuador on the first day of dialogue with the government.
Kathy Machoa, a woman of Amazonian Kichwa nationality, together with other leaders and former leaders of CONAIE announce the end of the national strike after 18 days of mobilization. June 30, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
A young man uses his shirt to cover himself from the tear gas used to repress.
Thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Quito.
A young man wears a Diablouma mask, a representative character of the indigenous communities.
An elderly man holds roses in front of a bonfire outside the Central University of Ecuador.
Detail of a megaphone used in the national strike demonstrations outside the Central University. June 20, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Quito.
Young people play music and dance as they march through the streets of Quito.
Graffitti that says: In this city the walls are devout.
Thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Quito.
Portrait of a young Amazonian in the mobilization.
Thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Quito.
Graffiti that says: No more mining.
People walk in front of graffiti that reads: Who answers for the dead?
Police forces repress in the center of the capital.
Shells of buckshot fired by police at demonstrators.
On the eighth day of the national strike, thousands of people from indigenous and peasant communities from different areas of the country took over the city of Quito. The residents of the southern neighborhoods receive them with food and shelter.
Demonstrators dance in circles to the melody of flutes despite repression in Santo Domingo Square. June 17, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Ritual at the women's march during the national strike.
Portrait of Ome Nongue, Waorani communicator. On the thirteenth day of the strike, on June 25, women from the different indigenous nationalities and peasant and Afro-descendant communities of Ecuador mobilized in a large march demanding an end to the repression during the national strike. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Portrait of Laura Enqueri, Waorani Amazonian woman. On the thirteenth day of the strike, on June 25, women of the different indigenous nationalities and peasant and afro-descendant communities of Ecuador mobilized in a large march demanding an end to the repression during the national strike. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Jatarishun, a Kichwa word, means: to rise.
Thousands of people return to the Casa de la Cultura after it was forcibly taken over by the national police.
Leonidas Iza, president of CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), in a speech during the return of the indigenous movement to the Casa de la Cultura.
Dozens of police forcibly enter from all sides of the Casa de la Cultura on the seventh day of the national strike.
An indigenous man remarks indignantly about how the increase in gasoline prices affects the daily life of the communities.
Handcrafted shields made from metal tank parts.
Rescue groups provide medical aid to people injured in the mobilizations.
Groups of protesters build bonfires to withstand the tear gas flooding the streets.
An Amazonian woman holds a flag outside the place where the dialogues between the indigenous movement and the government begin on the 15th day of the national strike. June 27, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Leonidas Iza, president of CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), in a speech during the return of the indigenous movement to the Casa de la Cultura.
Teenage women run under a bridge holding eucalyptus branches to help them withstand the tear gas. June 30, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Women from different indigenous nationalities of Ecuador lead a massive mobilization through the streets of the historic center of the capital during the last day of the strike. June 30, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Leaders of the different indigenous nationalities of Ecuador on the first day of dialogue with the government.
Kathy Machoa, a woman of Amazonian Kichwa nationality, together with other leaders and former leaders of CONAIE announce the end of the national strike after 18 days of mobilization. June 30, 2022. Quito. Photo: Karen Toro
Karen Toro
Artist, photographer, and educator based in Ecuador.